Four Women

Nakanishi Toshio was a leading figure in watercolor painting in Japan, producing stunning works in opaque watercolor on large canvases. This painting, one of his best-known works, was shown at the 4th Shinseisaku Exhibition. Nakanishi described his process for this painting: “First I made a full-sized charcoal sketch on paper, and once the general direction was established, I began painting. My intention was to explore the treatment of groups of figures in watercolor.” The artist’s painstaking efforts to determine the composition and handling of paint are apparent. The faces and backgrounds are painted with transparent watercolor, while other areas employ opaque white, deftly combining watercolor’s transparency with an impact akin to that of oil painting. (J.A.)